--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because if civilization is going to last…" description: "\"“Because if civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than just a place to watch TV and get cheap snake meat, it will onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png" --- # Because if civilization is going to last, if it's going to… ![“Because if civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than just a place to watch TV and get cheap snake meat, it will only be because we've learned to do one thing.' 'And what's that?' 'To care for people who mean nothing to us.” quote by Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png) > ““Because if civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than just a place to watch TV and get cheap snake meat, it will only be because we've learned to do one thing.' 'And what's that?' 'To care for people who mean nothing to us.”” [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests civilization endures only when we learn to care for strangers, not just ourselves. **In simple terms:** Caring for strangers sustains civilization. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy beyond personal circles. Themes empathy community civilization altruism Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical social When to use this quote - volunteering - community building - public policy - education - social work Key Concepts social responsibility humanism interdependence Questions to Reflect On - Who can you help today you you don’t know? - How does caring for strangers strengthen society? A Different Perspective People may resist caring for those they perceive as unrelated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) ## Related quotes > [For if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on among brutes as well as men?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-if-we-take-the-ages-into-our-account-may-there-not-be-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I think the greatest thing that we can do is take care of each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-think-the-greatest-thing-that-we-can-do-is-take-care-of-each-other/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Life was a lot easier when the only thing I had to take care of was a Tamagotchi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-was-a-lot-easier-when-the-only-thing-i-had-to-take-care-of-was-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of times, the script is the thing they care about least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/a-lot-of-times-the-script-is-the-thing-they-care-about-least/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [The only thing I care about is my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/the-only-thing-i-care-about-is-my-family/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [The worst thing you can do for anyone you care about is anything that they can do on their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-worst-thing-you-can-do-for-anyone-you-care-about-is-anything-that/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I argue that I don't think it's a moral position to say that civilization is going to collapse, and that's okay. Because that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/i-argue-that-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-moral-position-to-say-that/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [If civilization is going to survive, business and policy-makers must move on, to find within themselves more developed emotions than fear or greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/if-civilization-is-going-to-survive-business-and-policy-makers-must/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [“And under all this vast illusion of the cosmopolitan planet, with its empires and its Reuter's agency, the real life of man goes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/and-under-all-this-vast-illusion-of-the-cosmopolitan-planet-with-its/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Civilization is going down the drain, and the sooner it does, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/civilization-is-going-down-the-drain-and-the-sooner-it-does-the-better/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [It’s the end. It’s the end of the civilization. We’re going down. No, it’s sure not too attractive. Lenticels. I just hope my kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-the-end-it-s-the-end-of-the-civilization-we-re-going-down-no-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Allen's Law of Civilization: It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dickson/allen-s-law-of-civilization-it-is-better-for-civilization-to-be-going/) [Paul Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dickson/) > [I think civilization is going to get to a point where we suddenly become responsible, stewards of the whole evolutionary process. This requires domains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/i-think-civilization-is-going-to-get-to-a-point-where-we-suddenly/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [If human civilization is going to invade the waters of the earth, then let it be first of all to carry a message of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/if-human-civilization-is-going-to-invade-the-waters-of-the-earth-then/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [“I’ve learned one thing-people who know the least anyways seem to know it the loudest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/i-ve-learned-one-thing-people-who-know-the-least-anyways-seem-to-know/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) ## More by Mark Russell > [“When the spies got inside Jericho’s wall, they made a beeline past the apartments and the wall-marts to the whorehouse, where they were taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/when-the-spies-got-inside-jericho-s-wall-they-made-a-beeline-past-the/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [Rush has done some top-notch quality work, and we're very, very pleased with them. We really enjoy working with them. They are on time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/rush-has-done-some-top-notch-quality-work-and-we-re-very-very-pleased/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [A Consultant is a guy who knows 125 different ways to make love, but who doesn't know any women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/a-consultant-is-a-guy-who-knows-125-different-ways-to-make-love-but/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [“We are a species hungry for illusion. A powerful illusion not only convinces us it’s real, it becomes more meaningful to us than reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/we-are-a-species-hungry-for-illusion-a-powerful-illusion-not-only/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [You have the establishment and then you have the hippies revolting against the establishment, and what you end up getting are like accountants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/you-have-the-establishment-and-then-you-have-the-hippies-revolting/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I believe that Bill Clinton's second term will be good for business... my business!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-believe-that-bill-clinton-s-second-term-will-be-good-for-business/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [You know when Jerry Ford gets the best joke, you know you're in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/you-know-when-jerry-ford-gets-the-best-joke-you-know-you-re-in-trouble/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I think even the characters that are fundamentally evil and wrong, I want people to really love them. I think that's important to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-think-even-the-characters-that-are-fundamentally-evil-and-wrong-i/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [Believe me when I say that Bill Clinton's second term will be good for business. My business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/believe-me-when-i-say-that-bill-clinton-s-second-term-will-be-good/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [The thing that you're faulted on today is not that you are too tough, or not that you aren't careful. It's that you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/the-thing-that-you-re-faulted-on-today-is-not-that-you-are-too-tough/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [People are not in a good mood when any politician's face appears on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/people-are-not-in-a-good-mood-when-any-politician-s-face-appears-on/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [“When he arrived at the town of Bethel, he was teased by a group of boys who called him “baldy.” Elisha responded to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/when-he-arrived-at-the-town-of-bethel-he-was-teased-by-a-group-of/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I'll keep doing it until I die or the audiences die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-ll-keep-doing-it-until-i-die-or-the-audiences-die/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [If you call your opponent a politician, it's grounds for libel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/if-you-call-your-opponent-a-politician-it-s-grounds-for-libel/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [The way money goes so fast these days, they should paint racing stripes on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/the-way-money-goes-so-fast-these-days-they-should-paint-racing/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) [Explore all 36 Mark Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) ## More Care quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) [Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Because if civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than just a place to watch TV and get cheap snake meat, it will only be because we've learned to do one thing.' 'And what's that?' 'To care for people who mean nothing to us.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last-if-it-s-going-to-amount-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Care" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last-if-it-s-going-to-amount-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/mark-russell-17701_care_because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last_2489275.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Because if civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than just a place to…” — Mark Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mark Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Because if civilization is going to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last-if-it-s-going-to-amount-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/because-if-civilization-is-going-to-last-if-it-s-going-to-amount-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```